Form for inspecting stockings



FORM FOR INSPECTING STOCKINGS File dv Jpne 1927 a i z f QINVENTORPatented Jan. 15, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

nnwanna. AMMON, or READING, PENNSYLVANIA.

roan non msrnorme s'rocxrn'es.

Application filed June 7, 1927. Serial No. 197,215.

been used in this connection including relatively flat forms and morerounded ones, and in some mills the distending of certain portions ofthe fabric forming the stocking has been done by hand. The latteroperation is very expensive and unduly fatigues the operatives. Theforms commonly in use and which we know about are undesirable fordifferent reasons depending on the type employed. One common fault isthat the relative proportions of different parts of the form do notconform to the relative proportions of corresponding parts of thestocking so that in some portions of the fabric, the loops and seamstitches of the stocking, if it has any, are immediately anduncontrollably strained or distorted by the form as the stocking ismoved into operative position thereon for inspection. Furthermore, wherethe nose or tip end of the form is of spherical contour, as is the caseon some known forms, the operator is required to stoop or twist her bodymaterially to observe the heel or toe portions supported thereon. Inusing relatively fiat forms the stitches and seams are more distorted insome parts than in others, thus rendering the inspection faulty.

According to my method, the stocking to be inspected is supported on aform with the nose or tip thereof extending into the heel or toe of thestocking and normally without distortion or stretching of its loops orseam stitches. The loops or stitches of any portion to be examined arethen expanded or distended to any desired degree by pulling that portionof the fabric longitudinally by hand toward the upper or enlarged end ofthe form with which the stocking is then rotated while the operatormaintains the desired condition of loop or stitch expansion. Thelongitudinal pulling of the stocking and the rotation of the form are.repeated until theinspection is complete.

One object of my invention has been to I provide an effective 7 methodandfa form winch wlllpernntthe most rapid andcomplete. inspection of astocking positioned thereon and. which will wholly avoid those featuresof known inspectingmethodsand devices found to be unreliable orineffective and unduly fatiguing or uncomfortable for the operatives.These and other advantages reside in the use of a device embodyingapplicants invention. Such a. device or form isof curved crosssectionalcontour, preferably circular, and of progressively diminishingcross sectional area from the top portion to the end mutter-inmatespreferably in a tip of substantially conical shape.

The structural features of a form disclosmg my invention are shown inthe accompanying drawing in which 1 represents a a bracket or. supporton which a form is mounted for I'OttltlOI]... A post 2 projects from thebase of the form into a recess in said support. The form may be made ofany suitable material and may be hollow or solid as desired. Theillustrated embodiment is. of metal. and hollow. Its dimer sions. andproportions are based upon measurements of the dimensions andproportions of a great number of stockingsmadein different mills, and itis therefore suitable for use in examining substantially all stockingsof accepted standard makes and sizes and of the appropriatetype.Accordingly, the form from its base to its tip is of progressivelydiminishing cross sectional area, the reduction being relatively moreabrupt over certain portions. Thus, the extreme base portion 3 of theform illustrated is in effect a truncated cone of gradually diminishingcircumference or cross sectional area. This portion adjoins another butshorter truncated cone portion 4 having a more abruptly diminishingcircumference than that of portion: 3. Another less abruptly changingtruncated cone portion 5 adjoins the portion 4 and is in turn succeededby a second more abruptly attenuating portion 6. A. third more graduallynarrowing portion 7 is followed by a more abruptly tapering portion 8which ends in a conical tip 9. It will be noted that the less abruptlytapering portions diminish by approximately the same amount per unit oflength Whereas the pitch tions varies, the angle of inclination to thecentral longitudinal axis of the form being more pronounced in portion 8than in the portions 6 and 4 respectively, and that of the portionlbeing more pronounced than that of the portion 6. Furthermore, thedimensions are such that in drawing any stocking of appropriate typeinto operative position on said form, there will be no initialdistortion or stretching of the loops or stitches.

In use, the operative easily and freely pulls the stocking while insideout into operative position on the form with the loopsand stitchesnormally unstretched and, with the tip 9 seated in or extending into theheel of the stocking, manually pulls the stocking leg longitudinallytowardthe enlarged end of the form while rotating the form to presentall portions of the stocking leg for inspection. On account of the shapeof the form, the expansion or stretching of the loops due to saidpulling is uniform in all directions and can be increased or diminishedas circumstances indicate. With the leg portion remaining in position asinspected, the operative now pulls the foot portion on the formbringingthe tip 9 intothe toe. The foot portion is then subjected tolongitudinal pulling toward the enlarged end of the form to stretch orexpand the loops or stitches thereof as much or as little as necessarywhile the form is rotated. Upon completion of this examination, thestocking is stripped from the form by pulling the upper portions overthe lower portions, thus delivering the stocking with its outer surfaceexposed. An advantage residing in the method and mode of operationhereinabove described is that the gradual or controlled stretching ofthe fabric loops and seam stitches uniformly in all directions permitsthe discovery of a small imperfection which can easily be mended orotherwise disposed of; Whereas, in using forms which effect asubstantial initial distortion of the fabric loops when the stocking ispulled on, a minor fault is rapidly made into a fatal imperfection thuscausing loss of material and labor.

I claim as my invention:

1. A form for inspecting stockings comprising a body of substantiallycircular cross sectional contour having a plurality of tapering portionsof progressively varying diameter, some of said portions tapering with arelatively gradual pitch, and other of said portions tapering with moreabrupt pitch, the pitch of each of said other portions being differentfrom that of the remaining other portions and correspondingsubstantially to the narrowed portions of full fashioned hosiery.

2. An examinin form for stockings comprising a body of curved crosssectional contour made up of plurality of adjoining; sect-ions each ofprogressively varying diameter, and one terminal section having a coneshaped extremity.

3. In a form for receiving stockings, a. body of substantially circularcross sectional contour having a plurality of progressively varyingdiameters, each so located and proportioned as to correspondsubstantially to a portion of a stocking of like progressively varyingdiameter, said body being provided with a pointed smaller extren'lity.

l. In a stocking examining form, a body of substantially circular crosssectional contour comprising a slightly tapered welt section, arelatively short section of greater taper adjoining the welt section, aslightly tapered calf section more tapered ankle and calf section, aslightly tapered ankle a nd foot section, a heel and toe section ofrelatively greater taper than any heretofore mentioned section, and anend section adjoining the heel and toe section.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this25th day of May, 1927.

EDI WARD R. AMMON.

